It is based on this verse from the book of Isaiah, and is a way of teaching the Old Testament background for the coming of the Messiah, which is the first long "Advent."
"A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots"
- Isaiah 11:1
Our Jesse Tree which we use is from this kit.
We have also at times colored coordinating coloring pages.
Since every year the number of days in Advent is different, I tweaked previous years reading lists for this year. I have also changed it to better match this particular ornament kit, which meant deleting some significant Old Testament stories. There are various symbols for each story that will coordinate with multiple different ornaments. Here is a link to a calendar with additional daily activities for the Jesse Tree. Below each reading and symbols is a link to a coloring page that corresponds to the story.
November 30
Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4
Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earth
Creation coloring page
December 1
Adam ">
Symbol: Man ">
Adam ">
December 2
Fall of Man/Original sin: Gen. 3:1-24
Symbol: Serpent, tree, apple
Adam ">
December 3
Noah: Gen. 6:5-22; 7, 8, 9:1-17
Symbol: Ark, animals, dove, rainbow
Noah's Ark coloring page
December 4
Abraham: Gen. 12:1-9, 15:1-6
Symbol: Stars, torch, sword, mountain
Abraham coloring page
December 5
Jacob: Gen. 28:10-22
Symbols: Ladder, kettle
Jacob wrestling with Angel coloring page
December 6
Joseph ">
Symbol: Multi-Colored Coat, bucket, well, silver coins
Joseph coloring page
December 7
Joseph's Greatness: Gen. 41
Symbol: shock of wheat
Joseph storing food coloring page
December 8
Moses as Prince: Ex. 1 ">
Symbol: basket, baby in basket, river and rushes
Baby Moses coloring page
Moses and the Burning Bush: Ex. 3
Symbol: burning bush
Moses burning bush coloring page
December 9
Moses - Plagues: Ex. 5-12:1-36
Symbol: frog, parted sea
Moses Parting Sea coloring page
Moses - Parting Sea: Ex 5-12:1-36
Symbol: parted sea
December 10
Moses receiving Ten Commandments: Exodus 19, 20, 24:12-18
Symbol: stone tablets
Ten Commandments coloring page
December 11
Moses water from the rock: Exodus 17:1-7
Symbol: staff
Water from rock coloring page
December 12
Samuel: 1 Sam. 3
Symbols: Oil lamp, candle lamp, temple
Samuel hears God's call coloring page
December 13
David Chosen King: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Symbol: sheep
David chosen king or Star of David coloring pages
December 14
David ">
Symbol: slingshot
David ">
December 15
Solomon's Wisdom: 1 Kings 2:1-6, 3:4-28
Symbol: Scales of justice, temple, two babies and sword, crown
King Solomon coloring page
December 16
Elijah's Contest: 1 Kings 18:3,21-39
Symbol: burning rock
Elijah burning rock coloring page
December 17
Jonah: Jonah 2:1-2, 11 or entire book of Jonah
Symbol: Whale
Jonah ">
December 18
Tobiah's Journey: Tobit 5, 6:1-9, 10:1-6, 11:1-15
Symbol: fish
Daniel and the Lion's Den: Daniel 6:1-29
Symbol: Lions
Daniel coloring page
December 19
John the Baptist: Luke 1:5-25, 57-80
Symbol: sandal, Shell with water, river
St. John Baptizing coloring page
December 20
Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38
Symbol: Angel
Annunciation coloring page
December 21
Visitation: Luke 1:39-56
Symbol: Mary
The Visitation coloring page
December 22
Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25
Symbols: Joseph, Carpenter's Saw, hammer, chisel, angle
St. Joseph coloring page
December 23
Journey to Bethlehem: Luke 2:1-6
Symbols: manger
Journey to Bethlehem coloring page
December 24
Jesus is Born: Luke 2:6-20
Symbols: baby Jesus
Jesus in manger coloring page
Epiphany - January 6
Visit of the Magi: Matthew 2:1-12
Symbol: shining star
Three Wise Men coloring page
Credit: modern-wiccan.blogspot.com
